The World Economic Forum
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
The World Economic Forum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The World Economic Forum
- Legal name
- World Economic Forum
- Website
- https://weforum.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The World Economic Forum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Policy and Cooperation Forum
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
Keywords
Where The World Economic Forum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geneva
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
The World Economic Forum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Partner Membership Fees: The Forum operates as a membership-based organization with partner companies paying fees for access to high-level networks, research, and collaborative platforms. The Forum mentions approximately 1,000 major companies from over 50 countries as partners.
- Event Revenue: Revenue generated from hosting flagship events including the Annual Meeting in Davos, Annual Meeting of the New Champions (Summer Davos), and other regional and topic-specific gatherings.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The World Economic Forum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The World Economic Forum is an independent not-for-profit foundation that convenes global leaders from business, government, civil society, and academia to address world challenges through flagship events (Annual Meeting in Davos, Annual Meeting of the New Champions), partner memberships with approximately 1,000 major companies, and structured initiatives organized around 11 thematic centres. It produces proprietary research reports and indices (Top 10 Emerging Technologies, Energy Transition Index, Global Cybersecurity Outlook) and operates community programs (Technology Pioneers, Young Global Leaders, Global Lighthouse Network) alongside digital collaboration platforms (UpLink, TopLink, Lumina, Global Collaboration Village, Forum Circle).
Product overview
The World Economic Forum operates as a global convening and research organization offering a portfolio of platforms, reports, and community networks rather than a unified product. The core offerings include: major annual reports and indices (Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report, Energy Transition Index, Global Cybersecurity Outlook); event platforms (Summer Davos/Annual Meeting of the New Champions, TopLink); innovation programs (UpLink with innovation challenges, Technology Pioneers community); intelligence tools (Lumina AI-enabled platform); collaboration spaces (Global Collaboration Village in VR, Forum Circle alumni network); leadership recognition (Young Global Leaders, Global Lighthouse Network); and 11 thematic centres covering AI, cybersecurity, energy, healthcare, and other global challenges. These offerings work together as a research-convening-intelligence ecosystem where WEF gathers insights through its global community, publishes analytical frameworks and reports, and provides platforms for collaboration and innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- UpLink: The Forum's early-stage innovation initiative that sources and scales purpose-driven start-ups working to solve the world's biggest challenges.
Products and services
- Annual Meeting in Davos Flagship annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland convening global leaders from business, government, civil society, and academia to address pressing world challenges; targets enterprise partners and high-level delegates.
- Annual Meeting of the New Champions (Summer Davos) Annual meeting focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and emerging economies, held in Dalian, China, gathering over 1,800 leaders from 90+ countries.
- Global Lighthouse Network A community of 238 manufacturing and supply chain sites across 30+ countries recognized for leadership in applying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to achieve productivity, sustainability, and operational returns.
- Technology Pioneers A community of 100 early-stage companies from 23 countries recognized for developing breakthrough technologies with potential to transform industries and address global challenges.
- Young Global Leaders A highly selective leadership program recognizing approximately 100-118 emerging leaders annually under age 40 from over 50 countries, spanning business, government, arts, culture, civil society, and social entrepreneurship.
- UpLink Early-stage innovation platform that sources and scales purpose-driven start-ups working to solve global challenges through themed innovation challenges with prize awards.
- Lumina AI-enabled intelligence platform for industrial transformation, built on eight years of Global Lighthouse Network data, connecting audited evidence and peer experience into decision intelligence for manufacturing and supply chain operations.
- TopLink Digital engagement platform for Forum constituents and event participants to browse event agendas, book meetings, and participate in sessions.
- Global Collaboration Village A purpose-driven virtual reality platform that brings leaders together to solve real-world problems through next-generation collaborative technology.
- Forum Circle A digital platform for the World Economic Forum alumni network, allowing alumni to connect, message each other, register for events, consult job offers, and share information about their current work.
- Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report Annual report produced with Frontiers and Dubai Future Foundation identifying 10 breakthrough technologies expected to achieve large-scale commercial and societal impact within three to five years.
- Energy Transition Index Annual index benchmarking 120 countries on energy system performance and transition readiness, produced in collaboration with Accenture.
- Global Cybersecurity Outlook Annual report examining cybersecurity trends and challenges, identifying AI as the most significant force reshaping cyber risks.
- AI Playbook for Financial Services Report developed with Accenture providing financial institutions with guidance on scaling AI adoption, based on 18 months of input from over 150 senior executives in more than 100 organizations.
- Unicorn Community An invitation-only community of hyper-growth companies recognized for driving innovation and positive global impact, providing a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
- Human-Machine Collaboration Framework A framework analyzing how 80+ industrial jobs across seven manufacturing and supply chain functions are transforming, with a Resource Hub and Activation Playbook to help organizations prepare workforces for intelligent industrial environments.
- Buck Up Initiative An analytical framework advocating integrated approaches to economic growth, national security, and environmental sustainability rather than treating them as competing priorities, with case studies demonstrating mutually reinforcing policy benefits.
- Centre for AI Excellence One of WEF's 11 thematic centres driving innovation through the power of AI, data, and intelligence to improve industries, economies, and societies.
Quantifiable outcome
- GAVI Vaccine Alliance, supported by Forum, delivered vaccines to over 1 billion children
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The World Economic Forum
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The World Economic Forum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
The World Economic Forum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Oliver WymancoreCollaboration on geoeconomic fragmentation research, releasing joint reports on the economic costs of fragmentation costing the global economy $213-307 billion annually.
- Amazon Web ServicescoreCollaboration with Yes/Boston initiative led by WEF, selecting innovators advancing food and health solutions.
- CiticoreCollaboration with Yes/Boston initiative, supporting the inaugural cohort of 12 innovators advancing food and health solutions.
- DeloittecoreCollaboration with Yes/Boston initiative, supporting food-as-health innovation through the UpLink platform.
- AccenturecoreCollaboration on 'The AI Playbook for Financial Services' report, examining how financial institutions are progressing from AI experimentation to scaled adoption.
- FrontierscoreCollaboration on the annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report, identifying breakthrough technologies poised to reshape economies and societies.
- Dubai Future FoundationcoreCollaboration on the Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report 2026, highlighting innovations in energy, medicine, manufacturing, AI, and cybersecurity.
- MarshcoreCollaboration on low-tech longevity investments report, finding that preventive health measures could unlock $6 trillion by 2040.
- Tencent CloudcoreStrategic collaboration to provide digital services for Summer Davos 2026, including live streaming across 53 sessions and the Forum's first Weixin/WeChat Mini Program.
- Tencent CloudcoreProviding live streaming across 53 forum sessions, secure cross-continental transmission, and content acceleration through Tencent's technology infrastructure.
- FrontierscoreCo-publishing the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026 report, identifying technologies most likely to shape industry, policy, and society over the next five years.
- ManpowerGroupcoreManpowerGroup CEO Jonas Prising co-chaired the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026. ManpowerGroup presented workforce research at the forum.
- ManulifecorePartnership with UpLink Initiative and Centre for Financial and Monetary Systems to launch the 'Shaping Canada's Longevity Advantage Innovation Challenge'.
- AccenturecoreCollaboration on the Energy Transition Index 2026, benchmarking 120 countries on energy system performance and transition readiness. Also collaborated on Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026.
- AccenturecoreCollaboration on Energy Transition Index 2026, tracking energy transition progress across 120 countries with findings on stalling progress despite record investment.
- DeloittecoreCollaboration on earth observation report finding that earth observation data can contribute up to $703 billion annually to the global economy.
- KPMGcoreCollaboration on cybersecurity research including the white paper 'Empowering Defenders: AI for Cybersecurity', examining how organizations deploy AI for cybersecurity defense.
- Bain & CompanycorePartnership with Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning on AI-driven sustainability platform SUSTAIN, potentially unlocking $20 billion in partnerships by 2030.
- HCL GroupcorePartnership through UpLink to launch the fifth global Aquapreneur Innovation Challenge 'Transforming Water Systems' with CHF 1.75 million in awards.
- CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean)coreAssociate Partnership Agreement making CAF a key partner in the Forum's 11 thematic centres covering climate, energy, AI, and cybersecurity.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The World Economic Forum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): A London-based international affairs think tank with a corporate-membership program, Chatham House Rule convenings, and research publications. Closely analogous to WEF as a membership-funded global-affairs convener producing authoritative research.
- Atlantic Council: A U.S.-headquartered international affairs think tank with corporate and government members, focused on transatlantic and global policy, with a substantial convening, research, and policy-program portfolio comparable in scope to WEF's work.
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): A Geneva-based, CEO-led membership organization of more than 200 leading international companies working on sustainable development, with working groups, CEO-led convenings, and member-funded research outputs. Closely analogous as a Geneva-based, corporate-member, working-group-driven convener.
- Milken Institute: A non-profit, sponsor-and-partner-driven economic and policy think tank that runs annual conferences (Milken Conference Global), publishes research, and convenes leaders across finance, health, and capital markets — directly comparable as a multi-stakeholder convening organization with a research-products portfolio.
- Council on Foreign Relations: A membership-based U.S. international affairs organization with corporate and individual members producing research, hosting closed-door convenings, and influencing foreign-policy debate. Directly comparable business-model analog: dues-paying membership + convening + flagship research outputs.
- Bilderberg Meeting: An annual invitation-only conference of political leaders, CEOs, and policy intellectuals convened since 1954 to discuss global issues. Closest analog to WEF on format (private, by-invitation, leadership-only) and subject matter (geopolitics, economics, technology).
- Clinton Global Initiative: A convening and commitment-making organization for global challenges founded by Bill Clinton in 2005, drawing on corporate, government, and civil-society partners to turn ideas into action. Strong direct comparator on mission (multistakeholder cooperation) and on commitment-cycle model.
- Aspen Institute: A non-partisan leadership and policy organization operating leadership programs (e.g., Aspen Strategy Group, Aspen Ideas Festival) and policy initiatives. Comparable as a convening + leadership-pipeline + think tank hybrid serving senior executives and policymakers.
- Sun Valley Conference (Allen & Company): An annual invitation-only gathering of media, technology, and political leaders hosted by Allen & Company since 1983. Comparable on format (annual, private, invitation-only, executive-tier) and on convening legitimacy derived from consistent attendee quality.
Broad incumbents
- OECD: An intergovernmental economic-cooperation organization producing comparable research, indices (e.g., energy, education), and policy forums with a wider governmental mandate. Comparable on flagship index/report products and policy-forum convenings, but government-funded rather than partner-funded.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The World Economic Forum social profiles
Digital presenceThe World Economic Forum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The World Economic Forum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The World Economic Forum subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The World Economic Forum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The World Economic Forum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The World Economic Forum
What does The World Economic Forum do?
The World Economic Forum is an independent not-for-profit foundation that convenes global leaders from business, government, civil society, and academia to address world challenges through flagship events (Annual Meeting in Davos, Annual Meeting of the New Champions), partner memberships with approximately 1,000 major companies, and structured initiatives organized around 11 thematic centres. It produces proprietary research reports and indices (Top 10 Emerging Technologies, Energy Transition Index, Global Cybersecurity Outlook) and operates community programs (Technology Pioneers, Young Global Leaders, Global Lighthouse Network) alongside digital collaboration platforms (UpLink, TopLink, Lumina, Global Collaboration Village, Forum Circle).
Is The World Economic Forum a public or private company?
The World Economic Forum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The World Economic Forum founded?
The World Economic Forum was founded in 1971. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is The World Economic Forum based?
The World Economic Forum is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does The World Economic Forum make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Partner Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue.
Who are The World Economic Forum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs), Atlantic Council, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Milken Institute, Council on Foreign Relations, Bilderberg Meeting, Clinton Global Initiative, Aspen Institute and Sun Valley Conference (Allen & Company). OECD is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The World Economic Forum have an API?
No public API is recorded for The World Economic Forum.
What industry is The World Economic Forum in?
The World Economic Forum's product category is International Policy and Cooperation Forum. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAGAK, Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums, with a secondary code of BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels. Its NAICS code is 56192 and its SIC code is 8600.